1893.] ESSAYS. 37 



hardy tree, no matter whether indigenous or foreign, is always an 

 addition to the variety and the beauty of tree culture. 



The Worcester County Horticultural Society, with its iifty seasons 

 of planting and its influence during this period, has made its teachings 

 manifest in what tree planting will effect ; in many places within the 

 County, and many lands about the City, now beautifully adorned by trees 

 of stately growth, which were then utterly destitute of tree or shrub. 

 Now then, from my experience and observation for many years, I am 

 convinced that all homesteads of any pretentions can be improved b}^ 

 judicious tree planting, and nothing can embellish our farms like trees 

 well planted and cared for. Every well regulated and pleasing farm 

 should be abundantly planted with forest trees, which in many in- 

 stances are suggestive of the better and more refined farm life. 



There is no need of difficult or arbitrary rules in tree planting, 

 especially on farms. We may plant each tree on soil adapted to its 

 growth, and place each tree wherein it will best fit the situation, and 

 by so doing add an accomplishment to the farm and a charm to the 

 landscape, and a little pride to the owners. 



Farm homesteads, when not enriched either by trees or shrubs, are 

 unmeaning, unsatisfying, and seem devoid of all the comforts or 

 accomplishments of rural aptitude. The old school of farmers were 

 well trained in early life to cut trees, and not to plant them, but time 

 has wrought an entire change in his former and present conditions, 

 and he must plant trees that are beautiful at all times ; that are be- 

 yond comparison in their scenii^ feature in the landscape and home- 

 stead. What the farms hereabout lack most are trees, and it is almost 

 impossible to conceive the great change in the beauty of the land that 

 may be effected by judicious planting. 



The American Elm has, from the earliest period, held the front rank 

 as a stately, shady tree, overshadowing every other tree in the forest. 

 The Elm is emphatically a New England tree, differing in forms and 

 habits of growth. The grand and noble elms of New Haven seem to 

 have a type exclusively their own, with stately trunks unequalled, and 

 tops so well furnished with arching and graceful limbs to at once be- 

 come the sovereign of other woods. The Roger Williams Elm in 

 Providence, R. I., is another tree of gigantic form, stately bej'ond 

 comparison, and has been a landmark for centuries, and outlived gen- 

 erations of men and will outlive generations to come. 



The Elms of Lancaster, in this County, are also a magnificent 

 strain, differing in their habit of growth from other species found 

 elsewhere, and forming the most distinguished feature of the Town. 



